The unit is already looking for specialist nurses

The £4.5m facility is still under construction at Lincoln County Hospital and is due to open in April 2004.

Consultant Simon Leech says although there is a shortage of experienced staff, he is confident that all the posts will be filled by the time the centre opens.

"We are preparing from much earlier to make sure we don't get in trouble later on," he said.

Critical report

Last October a report from the independent Commission for Health Improvement said there was a lack of specialist care for stroke patients in Lincolnshire.

Mr Leech said: "There are initiatives at Grantham, Louth and Boston to find ways to improve capacity.

"You can't turn things around overnight, but this is being done as quickly as we can - the buildings are going up... and things are improving."

Emily Greaves, a nurse who will work at the stroke centre, says a team is already being built to staff the unit.

"We hope the new stroke unit will give patients in Lincoln a better chance at rehabilitation," she said.